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Delaware Opens Season Against Detroit Mercy

from press release

NEWARK, Del. - The University of Delaware, coming off
back-to-back Colonial Athletic Association titles and
NCAAâTournament appearances, will once again
kickoff the collegiate men's lacrosse season Saturday afternoon and
this year a special milestone could be in order.

The Blue Hens, ranked No. 19 in the pre-season
USILAâCoaches poll, will take part in the
season's first men's lacrosse game as has been the team's tradition
over the last decade as Delaware plays host to Detroit Mercy at 1
p.m. at Delaware Stadium.

Highlighting the opener will be Delaware head coach Bob
Shillinglaw looking to make history by winning the 300th game of
his career.

Shillinglaw, now in his 37th collegiate season as a head coach,
including his 34th with the Blue Hens, enters the game with a
career record of 299-264. He needs just one win to become only the
third active NCAAâDivision I head coach to reach
that milestone and only the eighth coach in the history of college
men's lacrosse to equal the mark.

Georgetown's Dave Urick leads all active NCAA Division I head
coaches with 338 victories while current Virginia boss Dom Starsia
ranks second in 329 victories. Denver's Bill Tierney and Duke's
John Danowski each enter the 2012 season tied with Shillinglaw with
299 victories.

Delaware, which went 11-7 a year ago in winning the CAA title
and advancing to the NCAA Tournament for the fourth time since
2005, has won nine straight seasons openers, including a 13-5 win
over Detroit Mercy last season at Delaware Stadium.

The Hens, who return 77 percent of their offensive output from a
year ago, have one of the nation's premier attackman in senior
Grant Kaleikau, who tied for the team lead with 45 points with 15
goals and 30 assists in 2011. Sean Finegan (21 goals) and Nick
Diachenko (18 goals) add to the offense while Connor Fitzgerald and
Tim Langmaid pace the defensive unit. All-CAA performer Dan Cooney
ranks among the top faceoff specialists in the nation.

Detroit Mercy, coming off a record of 6-10 a year ago, was
selected to capture the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference title in
the league pre-season coaches poll. The Titans are led by defenders
Jordan Houtby and Jamie Hebden and by goalkeeper AJ Levell. Shayne
Adams (35 goals) returns after leading the team in scoring a year
ago.